Invalidity appeal · Board of Appeal · 2022-07-08
R1570/2021-3
Contested design: 005306388-0001
Outcome
The appeal is dismissed; the invalidity applicant must bear the holder’s costs in the invalidity and appeal proceedings.
Show verbatim operative text(it)
1. Il ricorso è respinto; 2. La richiedente deve sostenere le spese in cui è incorsa la titolare nei procedimenti di nullità e di ricorso.
CostsApplicant ordered to pay costs
Parties
Applicant · invalidity challenger
LYNX S.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Viale Verdi, 56, 34074 Monfalcone (GO), Italia
Represented by
Holder · RCD owner
Luminal Agency S.r.l.via PDF extraction
Italy (IT)
Via Cappuccini 16, 20122 Milano, Italia
Represented by
Prior art cited (13)
watch / Royal Oak watch
International trademark No 729271 · international trademark publication · disclosed 2000-04-27
watch / Royal Oak watch
International design No 065 881-0002 · international design registration · disclosed 2004-09-01
watch design
International trademark No 594072 · international trademark registration · disclosed 1992-10-16
“Laureato” wristwatch model
La Clessidra, “Marche di Orologi in Italia” · La Clessidra magazine · disclosed 1995-12-01
“Royal Oak” wristwatch model
Audemars Piguet brochure · Audemars Piguet brochure · disclosed 1994-01-01
“Royal Oak” wristwatch model
La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio · La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio · disclosed 2004-01-01
“Royal Oak Calendario Perpetuo” wristwatch model
La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio · La Macchina del Tempo, L’Orologio · disclosed 2006-11-01
Royal Oak watch image
iW International Watch, “Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak” · iW International Watch · disclosed 2012-01-01
Royal Oak watch image
iW International Watch, “Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak” · iW International Watch · disclosed 2012-01-01
Royal Oak watch image
iW International Watch, “Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak” · iW International Watch · disclosed 2012-01-01
Royal Oak watch image
iW International Watch, “Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak” · iW International Watch · disclosed 2012-01-01
Royal Oak watch image
iW International Watch, “Audemars Piguet Happy 40th to the Royal Oak” · iW International Watch · disclosed 2012-01-01
Bulgari “Octo Steel” wristwatch
giltmagazine.it/lifestyle/arte-e-design/un-ottagono-segna-le-ore-di-bulgari/ · giltmagazine.it · disclosed 2013-06-09
Legal grounds invoked
Argument summary
- ›The invalidity applicant appealed, arguing that the contested watch case shared the dominant octagonal-bezel and circular-crystal appearance of the earlier watch disclosures and therefore lacked individual character.
- ›The holder answered that the prior watches differed materially in screws, bezel geometry, case structure, buttons, and other visible details, and that the newly cited D13 could not be introduced on appeal.
- ›The Board refused to admit D13 as a new prior design, accepted disclosure of D1-D12, and agreed that the common octagonal and circular features were widespread in the sector and attracted less attention.
- ›Because the aesthetic differences in bezel edges, screws, case shape, and side elements were sufficient to create a different overall impression, the Board dismissed the invalidity applicant’s appeal.
Deciding panel
- ChairG. Humphreys
- RapporteurM. Bra
- MemberC. Negro
- RegistrarH. Dijkema
Decision files
| Language | Type | Source link |
|---|---|---|
| enEnglish (en) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| esespañol (es) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| frfrançais (fr) | machine translated | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |
| itItalian | original | Download original from EUIPO ↗ |